Electric steam boiler



Feb. 10, 1931. J. B. ODELL ELECTRIC 5 TEAM BOILER Filed Dec. 24, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

' ZTmRNEY Feb. 10, 1931. J. B. ODELL 1,791,970

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TTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN B. ODELL, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA ELECTRIC STEAM BOILER Application filed December 24, 1929. Serial No. 416,239.

This invention relates to electric steam generators and more especially to the type of apparatus disclosed in my Patents Nos. 1,662,935'and 1,710,943.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric steam generator for the maximum efficiency in production of steam from electric current consumed.

A further object is to provide a simple substantial, practicable and inexpensive structure by the utilization of common pipe stock and steam fittings.

Another object is to provide a novel Waterleg structure in combination with a simple and practicable water tube sheet or head.

A further object is to provide a simple and practical electric generator structure in Which the heating elements or units are of durable and efficient structure and an object is to provide for the most effective arrangement of the units in association with the water tubes so that the latter are exposed to the radiant heat from naked adjacent resistance coils; it being a purpose to provide heat- ;ing units consistingof naked coils disposed between adjacent upper and lower tubes for the effective absorption of radiated heat.

The invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objects and advantages, and whose construction, combination and details of means, and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the ensuing description of the herewith illustrative apparatus; it being understood that modifications, Variations .and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, principle and spirit of the invention as it is more directly claimed thereinafter. I

Figure l is a front elevation of the generator.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through a water leg of the boiler.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail of the water leg and a header sheet.

Figure 5 is a View of the inside face of a part of a header.

Figure 8 is a vertical section of a portion of the heater box and cross-section 0 an installed heater unit, on Water tubes.

As here illustrated the apparatus includes a main Water tank 2 consisting of a piece of common pipe of suitable diameter and length and having end heads 3 and 4; the former having a Water gage 5 and the latter having a feed Water connection W.

Above the water tank 2 is a smaller steam drum 6 preferably of pipe stock and having closing heads 7 and 8; the former having a return drain pipe 9 connected to a pipe column 10 which taps by a nipple 11 into the tank 2 and has a foot end tapped by nipple 12 into a water leg of a. heater box structure, later described.

The steam drum 6 has an outlet 13 to serve any radiator system as desired, and safety is assured by a safety valve 14 here connected to the pipe column 10.

A steam pipe 15, with a gage 16 is connected to head 8 of the steam drum and leads from a Water leg of the heater box.

This box comprises hollow water legs 20 having vertical outer Walls 21 for attachment of the water nipple 12 and the steam connection 15. The inner face of each leg is formed by a header sheet 22 secured as by screws 23 to the respective leg flange 24.

The inner face (toward the leg chamber) of each sheet 22 has transverse parallel grooves 25 Whose bottoms have each, a row of round holes 26 which receive the ends of water tubes- 27 which reach in horizontal shelves from leg to leg, the shelves being separated a suitable distance. V

The method for securing a tight joint between the ends of the tubes 27 and their sheets consists in forming a flaring head 28 on the inserted ends of the tubes and arranging the heads about flush with the surfaces of the sheet thus exposing the tube ends in the slots, Fig. 6. Then molten metal, as lead 29, is poured into the grooves 25; the

sheets meanwhile being held horizontally with grooves up. Then the packing metal sets a strong and leak proof juncture is accomplished.

The wall 21 and header sheet 22 of each leg has a yoked top edge 30 forming seating parts for the superposed tank 2 which is held down by stay bands 31 fixed to the legs and clamped about the tank 2 and the steam drum 6.

At the rear of the spaced legs 20 is secured a back plate 33, preferably of stiff asbestos sheets, and at the front is a two-part sliding door 3%: this with the back33 and the spaced end legs 20 forming a heater box of which the water tank forms the immediate top so that water in the tank is pre-heated before passing, under head pressure of water in tank 2, to nipple 12 and the relative (left) leg.

The heat generator comprises a number of electric grids or units each consisting of a thin, substantial frame36, preferably of stiff, asbestos-body and having rove from front to back bars a plurality of independent current resistors each ofwhich includes a'flat system of resistance'wire coils'37 and 38.

Each resistor system"37 38 has one end grounded to a common terminal plug 39 fixed in a back boss 40 of the frame 36 and each has separate feeder terminals 4142 in said boss.

The several coils of the resistors 37-38 are naked and fully exposed by the open top and bottom sides of the frame so that maximum radiance is achieved; the tops and bot-- toms of the coils being within the topand bottom planes of the frame 36.

The units are adapted to be inserted severally between the spaced water tube shelves 27 which serve as supports for imposed units, Fig. 8. The inserted units are pushed in from the-opened frontand their'electric terminals 39tl42 passed through respective apertures in the back wall 33 and fastened by nuts 43.

The shelves of water tubes 27 are spaced just enough to easily admit the heater units; thus bringing the tubes in close proximity to the mats 7 of coiled, resistance wires.

Steam flow from the tubes 27 to the steam line 15 is effected because of the head of water in column 10 from tank 2. a

The whole forms a simple, compact substantial organization with its several elements arranged in such manner as to secure maximum efliciency, reliable action and low cost of maintenance and "current consumption. 7

While the parts 20 at each end of the heater box are designated water legs it is understood that water descends in one to'the tubes while the generated steam passes out'to the other.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric steam generator having a water tank, spaced, vertical water legs under the tank, fiat spaced shelves formed of tubes connecting and opening into the legs, a water flow connection between the tank and one of the legs, a steam outlet from one of the legs, and an electric heat generator consisting of heater plates removably disposed among and supported by the shelves.

2. 'Anel'ectri'c steam generator having a water tank, spaced vertical water legs under the tank, fiat spaced shelves consisting of tubes connecting. the legs, a water flow connection between the tank and the legs, a steam outlet from one of thelegs, andelectric heat generator units removably reposed on the: shelves of tubes; the generator comprising resistance units which'are supported on respective tube shelves.

3. An electric steam generator having aviator tank, spaced vertical waterlegs under the tank, vertically spaced shelves of tubes coi'inecting the=legs, a water-flow connection between the tank and the legs,'a steam outlet from one of the: legs, andanelectric heat generator comprising individually demountable resistance units whicharesupported on respective tube shelves each unit having naked resistancecoils exposed for heat-radianceto upper and tolower adjacent tubes of the shelves.

l. An electric steam generator having a water tank, spaced, vertical legs under the" tank, hollow spaced water conductingshelves connecting the legs, a watenfiow connection between the tank and thelegs, a steam outlet from one of the legs, andelectri'c heat genera tor plates removably disposed on the shelves, and. a back wall with electric terminals to which the generator plates are" electrically connected for'independent'insertion and removal.

5. An electric steam generator having a water tank, spaced, vertical legs'under' the tank, vertically spaced water conduits con necting the legs, a water flow connection between the tank and the legs, a: steam outlet from one ofthe legs, and electrioheatgenerators removably disposed on respective'conduits, and a bank of connectors to which the generators are severally attached.=

6. An electric steam generator having wa ter legs, sets of water tubesarranged inver tically spaced shelf" form, and a series of detached, separately removable heater units reposed on said shelves with naked resistance coils which are exposed upward and downward for heat radiation to adjacent water tubes composing the shelves.

7. An electric steam generator having Water legs, sets of laterally spaced water tubesarranged in vertically spaced shelf form, and a serles' of un1ts with naked resistance coils which are exposed upward and down-- ward for heat radiation to adjacent upper and lower water tubes; said units resting on next lower shelves of tubes and being freely removable therefrom.

8. An electric steam generator having water legs, sets of water tubes arranged in vertically spaced shelf form, an electric heat generator including a series of units with naked resistance coils which are exposed upward and downward for heat radiation to adjacent water tubes; said units being demountably reposed on next lower shelves of tubes, a front and back means forming with the legs a heat box, and a water tank disposed on and closing the top of the box and providing for pre-heating of water for the tubes.

9. An electric steam generator having water legs, sets of laterally spaced water tubes arranged in vertically spaced shelf form, a series of freely removable heater units with naked resistance coils which are exposed upward and downward for heat radiation to adjacent water tubes; said units resting free on next lower shelves of tubes, and electric service connectors to which the units are severally detachably connected.

JOHN B. ODELL. 

